// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Dentists issue warnings about illegal 'pop up' events in hotels
The British Dental Association in Northern Ireland says the 'practice of dentistry' occurs at many of these events - despite the venues and dentists not being appropriately registered
A dentist says he's "deeply concerned" by illegal dental tourism "pop-up" consultations in Northern Irish hotels, which aren't properly registered.
Paul Brennan, the chair of the Northern Ireland branch of the British Dental Association (BDA), says patients' mouths are often examined at these events, which constitutes the "practice of dentistry".
The BDA has warned that when dentistry occurs and the hotels and dentists aren't registered with their regulators, it can amount to "illegal practice".
The Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) said it had shared the BDA's guidance with its members.
Anyone practicing dentistry in the UK must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) and any venue in which it occurs must be registered with Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).
RQIA said it had received intelligence about 21 "unregistered entities" that have organised consultation events since October 2023.
It said "where concerns have arisen regarding the provision or promotion of dental tourism treatments in Northern Ireland", cease and desist letters had been sent to "the overseas dental practice involved" rather than the venue hosting the event.
Two upcoming events in Belfast have been cancelled either by the overseas provider or the hotel, following enquiries by BBC News NI.
Paul Brennan, a dentist in Strabane, said the number of pop-up events appeared to be increasing